Early reviews are coming in and here's what people are saying:
“Riley, who appeared in ghost form to her older sister, Ever, in Noël's bestselling Evermore, takes center stage in this middle-grade spinoff, first in a planned series. . .her wit, attitude, and maturation should have readers gladly following her into the second installment.”--Publisher’s Weekly
“This new series is by the author of The Immortals where readers first meet Ever and Riley. Narrating in a contemporary voice with an honest and comfortable cadence, Riley is imperfect, but always likable as she sweeps readers to her faraway land where she makes herself and readers assess their behaviors and, quite possibly, make adjustments. In the midst of this wildly fanciful setting, Noël is able to capture with nail-on-the-head accuracy common worries and concerns of today’s tweens.” –School Library Journal
“A tale for lovers of the genre . . . For those preteens who like a mild supernatural adventure with romantic overtones, you go, ghost.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Alyson did a great job writing Radiance. It was what I expected and more. I loved that I finally got to see an insight into Riley's point of view. Now, this book is for a younger age group, but nonetheless, this book was awesome. Riley's is a great character and had me hooked. Her quick wittiness and sarcastic comebacks had me laughing. . . She was able to catch that young voice and portray it beautifully. . Radiance is a great summer read. . . If you love The Immortal Series, then you will like this book.”--I give it 5 BITES!- Books With Bite
“Another highly creative and well thought out series for Alyson Noel! Radiance is targeted towards the middle school set and focuses on Riley, Ever's little sister from The Immortals series. Noel creates another imaginative world that is so well described it sucked me in from the very beginning. She has a very poetic style of writing, that will appeal to any age. The book deals with issues that any middle schooler would relate to (be it alive, or in the afterlife). Riley struggles with not fitting in with her peers, not always understanding what she is supposed to be doing or who she is supposed to answer to. She has a sharp tongue that gets her in trouble sometimes, but she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to fight for what she feels is right. An exciting and inventive story that will appeal to any middle schooler, and may even teach them a thing or two. I highly recommend.” – Bellas Novella
“Radiance is a sweet story, a perfect summer read… Like the Immortals series, Noel's world building is superb. Radiance was the perfect book to tide me over until the next Immortals book comes out. As far as middle-grade (what I've previously called chidren's ) books go, it's one of the best I've read.” I’d so Rather be Reading
“I think I found a great new series with tons of potential, and that series starts with Radiance. . .This book is so cute!”—Bloody Bookaholic
“I loved reading this book! Not only the fact that it was short and could be finished quickly, but also the idea of life after death and how those who have died may handle things. This read is perfect for any ages especially younger teens! It's beauty and simplicity blend perfectly with romance and humor. I'm sad that I must wait until next year for Shimmer, the sequel. I will definitely miss Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup! Also the cover is just beautiful!”—Novel Thoughts
“Riley is such a great, refreshing character and I loved her voice. She has some great inner monologues that made me laugh out loud. . .I really enjoyed Radiance. While it's a spin off from Alyson's Immortal series, you don't need to read Evermore to understand what is happening. It's the first in a middle grade series, but I'd definitely recommend YA fans of Alyson Noel to pick it up. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next with Riley and Bodhi.” --Mundie Moms
“I loved this book! . . .Ms. Noel's writing is fluid and flawless. She truly captures the thoughts of a 12 year old girl - I loved her inner monologues - they brought a smile to my face more than once. This series is going to be a treat not only for the new fans I'm sure Ms. Noel will acquire in young tweens, but I can guarantee it will be an instant hit with her YA and adult fan base. Loved it.”--Bookwormygirl
“Radiance is the first book in a spin-off of the immortals series. Although I enjoy the immortals series, I have to admit that I was a little skeptical starting out with this book, as I thought Riley's voice would be too young for me. Boy, was I sure proved wrong by little miss Riley! I absolutely loved her voice and her inner monologue. . .Overall, this was a light, fun read and I would recommend it to any tweens and young teens that love paranormal books! I am eagerly anticipating the next Riley book and I hope it will be just as good as Radiance.”-5 Stars—IB Book Blogging
“Riley is a unique character. She is sassy, feisty, and funny. . . If you are a fan of the Immortals, and always wanted to know what happened to Riley after she leaves Ever, you will want to read this book! If you have not read the books, this is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the wonderful writing of the author.”—Mrs. Yusko, Evergreen Junior High Library
“I'm very pleased with this book . . . This was a very quick read and yet wonderfully written and complex . . .Riley's story is touching, moving, and uplifting.”- 5 Stars, Bibliophilic Book Blog
I hope you enjoy reading Riley's story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks to all of you for your support--I couldn't do it without you!
Alyson
xoxo
